Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed stage IV mesothelioma that is unlikely to respond to
existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists

- Evidence of disease by CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 1 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

- Hepatic function adequate

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- No renal insufficiency

- No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No history of congestive heart failure

- No cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

- No serious lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
participation

- Not at high medical or psychiatric risk

- No nonmalignant systemic disease

- No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

- No concurrent immunomodulatory agents

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

- Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

- At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (or less if multiple tumors) and recovered

Surgery:

- Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

- Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed

- No prior antineoplastons

- No other concurrent antineoplastic agents